The following question will be voted on by members of the Dalhousie Undergraduate Nursing Society ONLY:


Whereas Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA) membership fees are increasing from $5 per full time student per year to $10 per full time student per year.  Failure to pay fees would mean withdrawal from this association which represents nursing students and their interests on a National level;

Whereas Dalhousie University nursing students are putting forward a bid to host the 2013 CNSA National Conference, an event that will draw over 800 nursing students from across the country to Dalhousie University and Halifax.  We must be a member school to host this conference;

Whereas Student involvement in DUNS events has increased, and we hope to sustain current events, create new events, and make events free or tickets low in price to allow access for all nursing students;

Whereas the Dalhousie University School of Nursing has informed us that due to cut backs they will no longer be able to provide the DUNS with the same level of financial support to host student/faculty events (such as the annual Wine and Cheese);

Whereas DUNS would like to offer a greater number of Travel and Study Grants to deserving nursing students to allow them to attend conferences and participate in other enriching learning opportunities and events (currently we offer 5 $100 grants per year);

Whereas Current BScN student fees are $30 ($15 per semester) with $5 funding CNSA membership and $25 funding DUNS operating costs and events.

Do you support a $10 increase, from $30 per year to $40 per year, for the BScN student auxiliary fee?  Of which $5 would be used to pay for your Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA) membership fee and $5 would be used to fund Dalhousie University Nursing Society operating costs and student events. 

Yes/No?

The Dalhousie University Nursing Society is a society for nursing students, run by nursing students. All undergraduate students in the BScN program are members of DUNS. Our mission is to create a sense of community and pride for all Dalhousie nursing students by providing an atmosphere of school spirit among students and faculty and though student activities and peer support accessible to all nursing students.

DUNS participates in many charitable events and hosts social events for undergraduate nursing students through the school year.  Charitable events include: CIBC Run for the Cure, For the Health of It, Trick or Eat, and Feed NS Christmas Family. Social events include the annual Wine and Cheese, the Ugly Sweater Holiday Party, the First Year Pinning Ceremony, and Nursing Ball, and the Spring Party for nursing students and their young families.  We also offer $500 in Travel and Study Grants to deserving nursing students each year as well as $250 each month in the Printing Bursary lottery. 

DUNS works closely with the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association to ensure that Dalhousie nursing students have a voice in this organization which represents nursing students on a national level.  Next January, Dalhousie will be hosting the CNSA National conference, an event which will draw over 700 nursing students from across the country to Halifax.  It is sure to be an unforgettable event!  

Not only have the number of students in the Dalhousie School of Nursing increased over the past four years, but the number of students participating in DUNS events has grown exponentially!  DUNS would like to continue hosting the events which have been so successful in the past as well as create new ones.  We understand that money can be tight when you are a student, so we aim to keep our events free or have tickets that are low in cost to ensure everyone can participate.  We would also love to provide greater allotments for Travel and Study Grants, Printing Bursaries, and create new monetary awards for students in any year of study to apply to.  We are also pleased to announce that we have won the bid to host the CNSA National Conference next winter! CNSA has decided to increase their fees, and in order to remain members of this organization and be able to host this conference, we need to increase our student auxiliary fees to cover this additional cost.  For all of these reasons we hope that you will vote yes on this referendum.

Chief Spokesperson: 
Emma Leon em885830@dal.ca